Tent camping in july? Am I stupid?

[Lakewood]

Hi all, first post in the Camping area. Generally raise a ruckus in the Disneyland section.

I was throwing the idea around with the gf today about going on a road trip that would ultimately culminate at WDW's Fort Wilderness. I have all the camping gear I could ever need,as I hunt upland game and boar here in CA.

How bad is the weather in July in say a tent or a truck shell? I have a small battery powered fan that I usually bring w/ me if I know its hot. The duration of the stay would be 3 days tops. Are bugs an issue?

I went there in Nov. of last year. Had a really good time, stayed at the Poly. I really enjoyed the bar/store next to the Hoop De Do Review. What loop/ area is that next to?

I kinda want to get a WDW fix in before she starts back up in school. (She teaches). This all of course is contingent upon me getting a few freebie tix from a friends mom who works out here in Anaheim.

Thanks for the info in advance.

 

[Shan-man]

It will be very hot, and very humid, and I would not want to try to get by with a battery fan, personally. If you tolerate huge temps well you might get by with a good AC-powered fan. I would have to have a small air conditioner to survive! Bugs will probably not be much of an issue, Disney does a great job of spraying to suppress them. Loops 100-400 and 700 are closest to the Hoop Dee Doo area. Loops 100-300 are preferred loops and are the most suitable for a tent. The closest partial site (tents and pop-ups only) is 1500 and is a pretty good walk to the Hoop (maybe 3/4 mile).

 

[des1954]

Just to let you know....I went to Epcot this afternoon & it was 94 degrees at 5:00pm. It only gets worse from now till about mid-October. In July you can easily get day long rainstorms, and at the very least a mid-afternoon deluge. If you need a WDW trip in July - stay at a value resort and be comfortable.

 

[Lakewood]

Just to let you know....I went to Epcot this afternoon & it was 94 degrees at 5:00pm. It only gets worse from now till about mid-October. In July you can easily get day long rainstorms, and at the very least a mid-afternoon deluge. If you need a WDW trip in July - stay at a value resort and be comfortable.

Hmm...
I checked out prices on WDW.com and wondered why there were still sites available...

I may have to look into one of the cheapie resorts...

 

[stpetedisneydad]

It's

 

[Sinclare]

Personally, I love it but (come on, you know the song.. some like it HOT)

Lets face it, it's rare that you're in the tent during the day and if you're like us then it's 10-11 PM before you get back to camp to stay then you get up 6-7 am the next morning and you're gone again. We even use a heater in the tent at night (In June-July) to knock the dampness off because it does get damp (seems like all tents now days have that open air netting under the rain fly so that you get all the dampness all night).

Don't shy away from tent camping in the hot weather because you most likely will only spend time in the tent during late night. I do occasionally go back for a nap during the afternoon but as I said, I do like it hot (must be part lizard).

 

[BradyBz12]

Hi all, first post in the Camping area. Generally raise a ruckus in the Disneyland section.

Just wanted to say WELCOME!

Ruckus raising is pretty much the norm here - as is threads that run horribly off course at the mention of beer....

 

[tvengineer]

I do not mind the hot either. Especially for a quick trip. Only in the tent to sleep, off the the parks and activities maximizing my time as much as possible.

 

[Lakewood]

Hey I like beer...

I might just sleep in the back of the truck, got a decent little shell on it. Its pretty comfy with an air mattress and a few blankets. I'm still on the fence about this one. (Friends mom hasn't gotten back to me yet about the tix).

Speaking of beer if you guys can get it I highly recommend "Arrogant *******".

 

[DisneyRose&Boys]

Personally, I love it but (come on, you know the song.. some like it HOT)

Lets face it, it's rare that you're in the tent during the day and if you're like us then it's 10-11 PM before you get back to camp to stay then you get up 6-7 am the next morning and you're gone again. We even use a heater in the tent at night (In June-July) to knock the dampness off because it does get damp (seems like all tents now days have that open air netting under the rain fly so that you get all the dampness all night).

Don't shy away from tent camping in the hot weather because you most likely will only spend time in the tent during late night. I do occasionally go back for a nap during the afternoon but as I said, I do like it hot (must be part lizard).

I'm with Sinclare... we love camping at the Fort in July. We do, however, use an a/c, but as Sinclare pointed out, how many of us are in the blessed tent during the day anyway?

That's my 2 cents.
Smoooooooooch,
Rosey

 

[des1954]

Gotta chime back in here as the OP's that said they like it HOT don't live in Florida. It's not the heat that will get you, but the relative humidity.

In July the dew point (on which relative humidity is based) is normally between 71 & 78 degrees. The dew point determines how low the temp needs to decline in order for dew to form. Based on a 71 degree dew point, the relative humidity is 97% - which is very damp, sticky air. That being said, in July the nightly temps usually hang around the upper 70's and sometimes don't drop below 80. Fans will help move the air & make you a little more comfortable, but they will do nothing to relieve the humidity.

If you do decide to "tent-it" or "truck it", I would heavily suggest taking a dip in the pool before retiring for the night or jumping in the shower & turning the water to as cool as you can stand it. That will bring your body temp down so you can at least get to sleep. However, don't be surprised if you wake up in the middle of the night sweaty & uncomfortable.

How do I know this? I have tent camped in July in Florida (I'm also a Florida resident for 36 years and now live close to Disney) and it's not pleasant camping weather at all unless you have an A/C. You can do it, but if you don't like sleeping in humid weather - stay in a value resort.

BTW - Disney does a commendable job keeping the mosquitos under control - so that should not be an issue. The greater issue would be the gnats and the deer flies (both are bad in the summer).

 

[zmom]

We live in FL and we do most of our camping in the hot and humid summer sun. We love it, but we spend a lot of our time doing activities outside and get acclimated to the heat and humidity. If you are not used to it, it would probably be uncomfortable. As for bugs, we were just there this weekend and were amazed at how few critters there were- a few no-see-ums, but no flies or mosquitos.

 

[lorac4disney]

Did someone mention beer? *Looking around for poll voting otters*

 

[queen95]

we just spent 2 days/nights there in a tent and i was a bit nervous since, as someone mentioned it was in the mid 90s. but it definitely cooled off in the evening and i even needed a sleeping bag. but i can't speak for what July will bring. also, i think that all sites have electric so you can plug in a bigger fan.

 

[amylevan]

It's not the heat that's the problem - its the humidity. The sticking to your sheets, feeling soakin wet all night, gross, wet, ewwwy feeling. And that's tent camping here in NJ during the summer - I can't imagine FL. The east coast is just a hot, humid mess in the summer.

 

[BradyBz12]

i think that all sites have electric so you can plug in a bigger fan.

Yes they do

I don't do humidity. Big reason we go in Nov/Dec. Remember that scene in the Wizard of Oz when they throw water on the witch? That's me when the dew point gets to FL levels.....

 

[Tigger0624]

I gave into DH wanting a pop up when we moved down to FL since we would be camping in the summer! We've tent camped for almost 10 yrs in the northeast- but once we hit the FL sunshine- I wanted AC!!! We were just there last weekend and I couldnt even get the air in the camper to keep it comfortable enough in there for my dogs!!! We are going next weekend and I am planning on several large fans to help with the heat. I also heard that putting tarps over the canvas of the PUP would help keep temps down- but I personally would never try it in a tent past May in FL- nights stay too hot for me...